P s 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
:t>^T 



Chap.^?..... Copyright No... 

— 1^3 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



A DRAMATIZATION OF 

LONGFELLOW'S 



V^ 



H I AWATHA: 



A Spectacular Drama in Six Acts. 



Delineating the Characteristics and Customs 



OF 



THE NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN. 



By ^L. DE VINE. 



Entered According to Act of Congress in the Year 1895 

By A. L. DE VINE, 

In the Offiice of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 



Copyrighted in Givai Biitm n and BrmfTFrmesswm; 

France, Germany, Italy, 

Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and Switzerland. 



INTRODUCTORY 



r 



^^ To ye whose hearts are fresh and simple 
Who have faith in God and Nature, 
Who believe that in all ages 
Every human heart is human, 
That in even savage bosoms 
There are longings, yearnings, strivings 
For the good they comprehend not, 
That the feeble hands and helpless, 
Groping blindly in the darkness, 
Touch God's right hand in that darkness 
And are lifted up and strengthened, ^ 

SUBMITTED this portrayal of the primitive life 
of the American Indians in their native forest 
home. Fully realizing how rapidly the race is be- 
coming extinct before the onward march of civiliz- 
ing influences, and how little the people of this and 
other countries really know of such customs, dress, 
and peculiarities, it is believed this spectacular drama 
will be found historical, an educator to the young and 
interesting to all. In thus depicting the higher and 
better life of the Indian race, their mode of living, 
dress, pastimes, feats of skill, dances, wooings, wed- 
ding feasts, festivities, death scenes and legends, the 
author has adhered to the original language of the 
poem as closely as is consistent with a faithful dra- 
matization thereof. 

This is the first and only known dlama of 
this kind or character in existence, and no other sub- 
ject, throughout the wide and varied field of poetry, 
ofl[ers like opportunities to the facile pen of the skilled 
playAvright. 



SYNOPSIS OF SCENES AND INCIDENTS. 



ACT I. The Peace Pipe. Gitche Manitou (Great 
Spirit) descends from Heaven and admonishes the tribes 
to cease warfare and bloodshed — Indians discard weapons 
and war paint — Gitche Manitou promises to send Hiawa- 
tha as a guide — Fashions a Peace Pipe — Sets fire to the 
forest and vanishes in smoke. 

ACT 11. Hiawatha's Childhood. Tribe of Ojib- 
ways— Hiawatha a babe in Indian cradle — Nokomis 
swinging cradle — Indian lullaby. 

ACT III. Hiawatha's Wooing. Scene 1 — Hiawa- 
tha grown to manhood — Desires to wed Minnehaha, a Da- 
kotah maiden — Discussion — Departs on journey — Noko- 
mis sorrowing. Scene 2— Hiawatha in forest — Shoots a 
deer — Shoulders it. Scene 3 — Tribe of Dakotahs — Minne- 
haha Falls — Wigwam of Arrowmaker — Hiawatha's arrival 
and welcome — Wooing of Minnehaha— Departure of Hia- 
watha and Minnehaha — Climbing of Falls — Arrowmaker's 
despondency — Tableaux. 

ACT IV. Wedding Feast. Forest — Ojibway vil- 
lage — Arrival of Hiawatha and Minnehaha — Welcome — 
Festivities — Feasts, songs, feats of skill, games, dancing 
and specialties — Tableaux. 

ACT V, Fever, Famine and Minnehaha's Death. 
Winter — Tepee of Nokomis — Starvation — Minnehaha begs 
for food — Enter Famine and Fever — Hiawatha hunting 
food — Disheartened — Appeal to Great Spirit — Minnehaha's 
sufferings and death — Lamentations — Hiawatha's return — 
Grief— Indian funeral — Tableaux. 

ACT VI. Hiawatha's Departure. Summer — In- 
dian village — Canoe approaches from distance containing 
Minnehaha as angel — Music — Colored lights— Indians as- 
tonishment — Hiaw^atha awaits her coming — Joins her — 
Hiawatha's farewell — Canoe disappears —Tableaux. 



(» 



HIAWATHA^* 



DRAMATIS PERSONS. 

Gitche Manito; the Indian Great Spirit and Father of all 

Nations. 
Hiawatha, the Prophet of Peace, of the tribe of Ojibways, 

sent to guide the Indian nations. 
Ancient Arrow-maker; Minnehaha's Father. 
Chibiabos; the Singer. 
Pau-Puk-Keewis; the Dancer. 
Bukadawin; Famine. 
Ahkosewin; Fever. 

Minnehaha; Hiawatha's Bride, a Dakota Maiden. 
Old Nokomis; Hiawatha's Grand-mother. 
Miscellaneous Indian Braves. 
Miscellaneous Indian Women. 



SYNOPSIS. 

Act 1st. - - - - - - The Peace Pipe. 

Act 2nd. - - - - - Hiawatha's Childhood. 

"l Scene 1st. Hiawtitha's Discussion 
Act 3rd. Hiawatha's [ with Nokomis and Departure. 

Wooing. I Scene 2nd. Hiawatha's Journey. 

J Scene 3rd. Wooing of Minnehaha. 

r Home of Arrovv-maUer, \ 
\ View of Minnehaha FaUs. j 

Act 4th. Wedding Feast. 

Act 5th. - Fever and Famine and Minnehaha's Death. 
Act 6th. Hiawatha's Reunion with Minnehaliaand Departure. 



HIAWATHA. 



ACT I. 
THE PEACE PIPE. 



Sce7iery: 



Description as nearly as possible to fo.low description accord- 
ing to the poem. In background^ high mountains. In fore- 
ground^ lower hills^ ivith forest trees and Indian tents in 
the distance: GITCHE MANITO; The great Spirit ar)d 
FATHER of all NATIONS f descends from the clouds 
encircled in a flood of bright lights of various colors; 
strains of soft sweet Music, as from a distance, accompany- 
ing his descent as though from Heaven to Earth or to 
the top of the mountain. The Indian representatives from 
all Nations in their peculiar distinct dress of the several 
different tribes, grouped here and there among the trees 
and rocks are attracted by the smoke signal and are then 
seen coming from all directions in full Indian war paint 
and costume; when signaled to by GITCHE MANITO, 
the Great Spirit, as per the following poem: 

Act and Description of Gitche Ma7iito: 

On the Mountains of the Prairie, 
On the great Tied Pipe-stone Quarry, 
Gitche Manito, the Mighty, 
He the Master of Life DKSCEN DING, 
On the red craigs of the quarry 
Stood erect, and called the Nations, 
Called the tribes of men together. 
From his footprints flowed a river, 
Leaped into the light of morning, 
O'er the precipice plunging downward 
Gleamed like Ishkoodah, the comet. 
And the Spirit, stooping earthward, 
With his finger on th« meadow 
Traced a winding pathway for it. 
Saying to it, 



HIAWATHA. 

Gitche Manito: 

Run in this way! 



From the red stone of the quarry 
With his hand he broke a fragment. 
Moulded it into a pipe-head,- 
Shaped and fashioned it with figures; 
From the margin of the river 
Took a long reed for a pipe-stem, 
With its dark green leaves upon it; 
Filled the pipe with bark of willow, 
With the bark of the red willow; 
Breathed upon the neighboring forest, 
Made its great bows chafe together, 
Till in flame they burst and kindled; 
And erect upon the mountains 
Gitche Manito. the Mighty, 
Smoked the calumet, the Peace -Pipe, 
Asa signal to the nations. 

And the smoke rose slowly, slowly. 
Through the tranquil air of morning. 
First a single line of darkness. 

From the vale of Tawasenthena, 
From the Valley of Wyoming 
From the groves of Tuscaloosa, 
From the far-off Rocky Mountains, 
From the Northern lakes and rivers. 

Act^ Indians: 

All the tribes beheld the signal, 
8aw the distant smoke ascending, 
The Pukwana of the Peace-Pipe. 

Indian Warriors {to each other ^ pointing): 

Behold it, the Pukwuna! 
By this signal from afar off, 
Bending like a wand of willow. 
Waving like a hand that beckons, 
Gitche Manito, the Mighty, 
Calls the tribes of men together, 
Calls the warriors to his council! 



Jf HIAWATHA. 

Act of hidian Tribes: 

Down the rivers o'er the prairies, 
Came the wariors of the nations, 
All the wariors drawn together 
By the signal of the Peace-Pipe 
To the Mountains of the Prairie, 
To the great Red Pipe-stone Quarry. 

And they stood there on the meadow, 
With their weapons and their war-gear, 
Painted lil^e the leaves of Autnmn, 
Painted like the sky of morning, 
Wildly glaring at each other; 
In their faces stern defiance, 
In their hearts the fends of ages. 
The hereditary hatred 
The ancestral thirst of vengeance. 



Act, Gitche Mamto: 

Gitche Manito, the mighty, 
The Creator of the nations. 
Looked upon them with compassion, 
With paternal love and pity; 
Over them he stretched his right hand. 

Gitche Manito: 

my children; my poor children I 
Listen to the words of wisdom, 
Listen to the words of waining! 
From the lips of the jrreat Spirit, 
From the Master of life, who made 3011! 

1 hjive given you hinds to hunt in, 
I have given you streams to hsh in, 
I have given you hear and bison, 

I have given yon n)e and reindeer, 
I have given yon brant and beaver.. 
Filled the marshes full of wild fowl. 
Filled the rivers full of fishes; 
Why then are you not contented? 



HIAWATHA. 

Why then will you hunt each other? 

I am weary of your quarrels. 
Weary of your wars and bloodshed, 
Weary of your praj^ers for vengeance, 
All your stiength is in your union, 
All your danger is in discord; 
Therefore be at peace henceforward. 
And as brothers live together. 
'^1 will send a Prophet to you, 
Hiawatha will I send to you 
A deliverer of the nations, 
Who shall guide you and shall teach you, 
Who shall toil and suffer with you. 
If you listen to his counsels, 
You will multiply and prosper: 
Jf his warnings pass unheeded 
You will fade away and perishi 

Bathe now in the stream before you 
Wash ihc war-paint from your faces. 
Wash the blood stains from your fingers, 
liury your war clubs and your weapons, 
lUeak ihe red stone from this quarry. 
Mould and make it into Peace-Pi pes. 
Take the reeds that grow beside you, 
Deck them with your brightest feathers, 
Sfuoke the calumet together, 
And as brothers live henceforAvard! 



^^/, Indians, 



I hen upon the ground the warriors 
Threw their cloaks and shirts of deer- skin, 
Threw their weapons and their war-gear, 
Leaped into the rushing river. 
Washed the war-paint from ilieir fa< es. 
Clear above them flowed the water, 
Clear and limped from the footprints 
Of the Master of Life descending; 
Dark below them flowed the water, 



HFAWATHA. 

Soiled and stained with streaks of crimson, 
As if blood were mingled with It. 

From the river came the warriors. 
Cleaned and washed from all their war-paint, 
On the banks their clubs they burled, 
Buried all their warlike weapons. 



Ac/^ Gitche Manito: 



Gitche Manito, the Mighty, 
The Great Spirit, the Creator, 
Smiled upon his helpless children. 



Art, Indians: 



And in silence all the warriors 
Broke the red stone of the quarry , 
Smoothed and formed it into Peace-IMpes, 
Broke the long reeds by the river. 
Decked them with their brightest feathers. 

A beautiful transformation Scene and tableaux can be given here 
with the groupes of Indians, Bright colored lights, soft Heavenly 
music, and OITCHE MANITO ASCENDING again to 
Heaven in a CLOUD of SMOKE, 
( See following description . ) 

While the Master of Life, ascending 
Through the opening of cloud-curtains, 
Through the doorways of the heaven 
Vanished from before their faces, 
In the smoke that rolled around him. 



*t^gF^ 



HIAWATHA. 



ACT II. 



HIAWATHA'S CHILDHOOD. 



Scenery: 



A ihort scene or acting tableaux^ can he given here^ the scenery to 
follow the description in the poerrij HI A WATHAy a baby y in an 
Indian Cradle swung between the trees which is being rocked by old 
NOKOMIS (his grandinother) while she is singing the Lullaby 
songy Little Owlet. (See following description.) 

By the shinlDg Big-Sea- Water, 
Stood the wigwam of Nokomis. 
Daughter of the Moon, Noltomis. 
Dark behind it rose the forest, 
Rose the biack and gloomy pine-trees, 
Hose the firs with cones upon th^m; 
Bright before it beat the water, 
Beat the clear and sunny water, 
Beat the shining Big-Sea- Water. 
There the wrinkled, old Nokomis 
Nursed the little Hiawatha, 
Rocked him in his linden cradle, 
Bedded soft in moss and rushes. 
Safely bound with reindeer sinews; 
Stilled his fretful wail by saying, 

JVokomis: 

Hush! the Naked Beur will hear thee! 

Lulled him into slumber singins:, 



HIAWATHA. 



J^okomis Song: 



Ewa-yea! my little owlet! 

Who is this, that lights the wigwam? 

With his great eyes lights the wigwam? 

Ewa-yea! my little owlet! 

Wah-wah-taysee, little fire-fly, 

Little, flitting, white-tire insect. 

Little, dancing, white-fire creature, 

Light us with your little candle. 

Ere upon your bed I lay you 

Ere in sleep you close your eyelids! 



HIAWATHA. 



ACT III. 

HIAWATHAS WOOING, 
TRIBE OF OJIBWAYS. 



Scene First. Hiawatha's Discussion with Nokomis 
and Departure. 



Scenery : 



Same as Act II, This l» supposed to he the TRIBE and land of 
THE OJIB WA YS. Showing the INTERIOR of the TEPEE 
of Old NOKOMIS. HI A WA THA; {tall, straight, of majestic fig- 
ure j commanding aspect, dashing and handsome,) is seen shaping an 
arrow to fit a how. NOKOMIS; a majestic Indian woman as be - 
fits HIA WA THA'S grandmother, sits making a robe of deer skin 
or work of like kind* HIA WA THA sits working, thinking, 
pondering. 

Description of Hiawatha: 

Out of childhood into manhood 
Now had grown my Hiawatha. 



iO HIAWATHA. 

Skilled in all the craft of hunters, 
Learned in all the lore of old men, 
In all youthful sports and pastimes, 
In manly arts and labors. 

►Swift ol foot was Hiawatha; 
He could shoot an arrow from him, 
And run forward with such fleetness, 
That the arrow fell behind him! 
Strong of arm was Hiawatha; 
He could shoot ten arrows upward, 
Sho It them with sue i strength and swiftness 
That the tenth had left the bow-string 
Ere the first to earth had fallen! 

He had mittens, Minjekahwun, 
Magic mittens made of deer-skin; 
When upon his hands he wore them. 
He could smite the rocks asunder 
He could grind them into powder. 

He had moccasins enchanted, 
Magic moccasins of deer-skin: 
When he bound them round his ankles. 
When upon his feet he tied them, 
At each stride a mile he measured! 



Hiawatha; {speaking meditatively ): 

As unto the bow the cord is, 
So unto th^ man is woman, 
Though she bends him, she obeys him, 
Though she diaws him, yet she foUows, 
Useless each without the otherl 

Nokomis; {in a warning and dissuading voice): 

Wed a maiden of your j)eople. 
Go not eastward, go not westward, 
For a stranger, whom we know not! 
Like a tire upon the hearth-stone 
Is a neighbor's homely daughter, 
Like the starlight or the moonlie^ht 
Is the handsomest of strangers! 



HIAWATHA. 11 

Hiawatha; {pursuadingly): 

Dear old Nokoinis, 
Very pleasant is the firelight, 
But I like the starlight better, 
Better do I like the moonlight! 

Nokamis; (gravely): 

Bring nut here an idle maiden, 
Bring not here a useless woman, 
Hands unskillful, feet unwilling; 
Bring a wife with nimble fingers. 
Heart and hand that move together, 
Feet that run on willing errands! 

Hiawatha ^[Smilling): 

In the land of the Dacotahs 
Lives the Arrow maker's daughter, 
Minnehaha, Laughing water. 
Handsomest of all the women. 
I vrill bring her to your wigwam, 
She shall run upcm 3^our errands. 
Be your starlight, moonlight, firelight. 
Be the sunlight of my people! 

NokomiSj [still dissuading): 

Bring not to my lodge a stranger 
From the land of the Dacotahs! 
Very fierce are the DacotMhs, 
Often is there war between us. 
There are feuds yet unforgotten, 
Wounds that ache and still may open! 



12 HIAWATHA. 

Hiazvatha, {laughing): 

For th«at reason, if no other. 
Would I wed the fair Dacotah, 
That our tribes might be united, 
That old feuds might be forgotten. 
And old wounds be healed forever! 

During this conversation HIA WATS A stops Ms work and prepares 
for his journey, OLD NOKOMIS becoming more and more 
earnest and entreating as his preparations proceed: when he goeSj 
she follows and tries to detain him, then watches him out of sights 
and the curtain falls while she stands atone, weeping, desponden t 
and sorrowing at the door of her wigwam. 

Description of Hiawatha: 

Dressed for travel, armed for hunting; 

Dressed in deer-skin shirt and leggings, 

Richly wrought with quills and wampum; 

On his head his eagle-feathers. 

Round his waist his belt of wampum, 

In his hand his bow of ash-wood, 

Strung with sinews of the reindeer; ' 

In his quiver oaken arrows. 

Tipped with jasper, winged with feathers; 

With his mittens, Minjekahwun, 

With his moccasins enchanted. 

Acty Hiawatha: 



Thus departed Hiawatha 

To the land of the Dacotahs, 

To the land of handsome women; 



Acty Nokomis: 



Homeward weeping went Nokomis 
Sorrowing for her Hiawatha, 



HIAWATHA. 13 



ACT III. 

Scene Second. Hiawatha's Journey. 

SCENERY. A short scene can be given here^ showing a deep 
forest y also giving a view of Hiawatha upon his journey and 
with his bow and arrow, shooting the deer which he takes MIN- 
NEHAHA as a gift, and lays at her feet on his arrival. 

Act, Hiawatha-. 

Through the forest deep and lonely, 
Then he journeyed without resting, 
Till he heard the cataract's laughter. 
Heard the Falls of Minnehaha 
Calling to him through the silence. 
Standing, Listening, he murmured, 

Hiawatha: 

Pleasant is the sound! 

Pleasant is the voice that calls me! 

On the outsliirts of the forest, 
Twixt the shadow and the sunshine. 
Herds of fallow deer were feeding. 
But they saw not Hiawatha; 

Hiawatha (whispering to his bow): 

Fail not! 
Hiawatha {whispering to his arrow): 

Swerve not! 

Sent it singing on its errand. 
To the red heart of the roebuck; 
Threw the deer across his shoulder. 
And sped forward without pausing. 



U HIAWATHA. 



ACT III. 

^'TRIBE OF THE DACOTAS," 
HOME OF THE ARROW MAKER. 



Scene Third. Wooing of Minnehaha. 
Scenery, 

As perfect an imitation as possible of the Scenery of and about 
MINNEHAHA FALLS. With the FALLS, also Very High 
Rocks in the background. In the foreground, at the base of Min- 
nehaha Falls, a wigwam, representing the appearance and interior 
of a wigwam of the DA( OTAH TRIBE, MINNEHAHA to 
be tall, straight, dashing and handsome. (See the following Des- 
cription.) 

In the land of the Dacotahs, 
Where the Falls of Minnehaha 
Flash and gleam among the oak-trees, 
Laugh and leap into the valley. 
Very spacious was the wigwam, 
Made of deer-skin dressed and whiteued. 
With the Gods of the Dacotahs 
Drawn and painted on its curtains, 
And so tall the doorway, hardly 
Hiawatha stooped to eater, 
Hardly touched his eagle feathers 
As he entered at the doorway. 



Act^ Arrow-maker: 



At the doorway of hU wigwam 
Sat the ancient Arrow-maker, 
In the land of the Dacotahs, 
Making arrow-heads of jasper, 
Arrow-heads of chalcedony. 



HIAWATHA, 15 



Description of Minnehaha: 



At his side in all her beauty, 
Sat the loveily Minnehaha, 
Sat his daughter, Laughing water 
Plaiting mats of flags and rushes; 
Feet as rapid as the river. 
Tresses flowing like the water. 
And as musical a laughter; 
And he named her from the river. 
From the water-fall he named her, 
Minnehaha, Laughing Water 



Actf Minnehaha: 



She was thinking of a hunter. 
From another tribe and country, 
Young and tall and very handsome. 
On the mat her hands lay idle, 
And her eyes wer« very dreamy. 

Through her thoughts she heard a foot- 

[step,] 
Heard a rustling in the branches. 



Act, Hiawatha: 



And with glowing cheek and forehead. 
With the deer upon his shoulders. 
Suddenly from out the woodlands 
Hiawatha stood before them. 

Acty Arrow=maker. 

straight the ancient Arrow-maker 
Looked up gravely from his labor. 
Laid aside the unflnished arrow, 
Bade him enter at the doorway, 
Saying, as he rose to meet him, 

Arrow=maker: 

Hiawatha, you are welcome! 
Act^ Hiawatha: 

At the feet of Laughing Water 
Hiawatha laid his burden, 
Threw the red deer from his shoulders; 



16 HIAWATHA. 

Act, Minnehaha: 

And the maiden looked up at him. 
Looked up from her mat of rushes, 
Said with gentle look and accent. 

Minnehaha', 

You ure welcome, Hiawatha! 

Act, Minnehaha: 

Then uprose the Laughing Water, 
From the ground fair Minnehaha. 
Laid aside her mat unfinished. 
Brought forth food and set before them, 
Water brought them from the brooklet, 
Gave them food in earthen vessels. 
Gave them drink in bowls of bass-wood. 

The following coriversation to be carried on between the ARROW' 
MAKER and HIAWATHA ivhile MINNEHAHA brings the 
food etc., and sets before them. 

Hiawatha^ {with much expression): 

"You know of my wondrous birth and being, 
How I prave(i and how I fasted. 
How I lived, and toiled, and suffered. 
That the tribes of men might prosper. 
That I might advance my people!" 
Dear Old Nokomis. who has nursed me in my child- 
hood needs a dauofhter now to help her. 
To the lodge of old Nokomis 
I would bring the moonlight, starlight, firelight. 
Bring the sunshine to my people. 
Give me Minnehaha, Laughing Water, 
Handsomest of all the women 
In the land of the Dacotahs, 



HIAWATHA, 17 

In the land of handsome women. 
There is happiness and plenty 
In the land of the Ojibways, 
In the pleasant land and peaceful. 

Act, Min7iehaha\ 

See the face of Laughiog Water, 
Peeping from behind the curtain, 
Hear the rustling of her garments 
From behind the waving curtain, 
Listened while the guest was speaking, 
Listened while her father answered. 
But not once her lips she opened, 
Not a single word she uttered. 

Yes, as in a dream she listened 
To the words of Hiawatha. 

Hiawatha, (with deep feeling): 

After many years of warfare, 
Many years of strife and bloodshed, 
There is peace between the Ojibways 
And the tribe of the Dacotahs. 

Hiawatha; In his earnestness rising, speaking slowly, with Great 
Expression, and turning toward Minnehaha, 

"That this peace may last forever, 
And our hands be clasped more closely, 
And our hearts be more united. 
Give me as my wife this maiden, 
Minnehaha, I^aughing Water, 
Loveliest of Dacotah women!'' 

Acty Hiawatha: 

Reseats himself, looking expectanily and earnestly at the ArroW' 
maker for his reply. 



18 HIAWATHA, 

Act, Ari^ow^maker\ 



And the ancient Arrow-maker 
Paused a moment ere he answered, 
Smoked a little while in silence, 
Looked at Hiawatha proudly. 
Fondly looked at Laughing Water, 
Then made answer very gravely: 



Arrow -maker (with deep Jeeling)\ 

Yes, if Minnehaha wishes; 

Let your heart speak, Minnehaha. 



Act, Minnehaha: 



And the lovely Laughing Water 
Seemed more lovely, as she stood there, 
Neither willing nor reluctant. 



Acty Minnehaha: 

Turns FIRST to ONE and THEN to the OTHER, hesitates at 
thought of leaving her father, goes to him, then turning, looking 
at Hiawatha, hesitates. 



Act, Minnehaha: 

Then, she went to Hiawatha 
Softly took the seat beside him, 
While she said, and blushed to say it, 



Minnehaha: 

I will follow you my husband! 



HIAWATHA. 19 

Arrow-maker: 

Rising, going over and speaking to Hiawatha, 

You have wooed and won my maiden, 
With your stories of the North-land! 
Happy are you, Hiawatha, 
Having such a wife to love you! 

Arrow-maker; turning, speaking to his daughter: 

Happy are you. Laughing Water, 
Having such a noble husband! 

Arrow-maker, {to bothy. 

O my children, 
Love is sunshine, hate is shadow, - 
Life is checkered shade and sunshine, 
Rule by love, O Hiawatha! 
''O my children. 
Day is restless, night is quiet, 
Man imperious, women feeble; 
Half is hers although she follows 
Rule by patience. Laughing Water!" 

Act, Hiawatha and Minnehaha: 

From the wigwam he departed, 
Leading with him Laughing Water; 
Hand in hand they went together, 
Left the old man standing lonely 
At the doorway of his wigwam. 

Arrow-maker y very sorrowfully: 
Fare thee well, O Minnehaha! 



HIAWATHA, 



Acty Arrow-maker: 



And the ancient Arrow-maker 
Turned again unto his labor, 
Sat down by his sunny doorway, 
Murmuring to himself, and saying: 

Arrow-maker^ {meditatively and with much expres^ 
sion): 

"Thus it is our daughters leave us 
Those we love, and those who love us! 
Just when they have learned to help us, 
Just when we are old and lean upon them. 
Comes a youth with flaunting feathers. 
With his flute of reeds, a stranger 
Wanders piping through the village, 
Beckons to the fairest maiden. 
And she follows wiiere he leads her. 
Leaving father, mother, home, friends,* 
Leaving ALL things, for the Stranger. 

Hiawatha and Minnehaha are to he seen (ivhile Arrow-maker is 
thus sitting at the doorway and meditating); first winding in and 
out among the trees, then climbing the rocks, coming into view, then 
disappearing behind rocks; then again being seen wending their 
way higher and higher upon the rocks, and when the SUMMIT 
of the MINNEHAHA FALLS is reached, they are seen, Hiawa- 
tha, with his arm around Minmh aha, pointing to the wigwam in 
the valley below. The Old Arrow-maker sees them at the same 
time, rises, {shading his eyes with his hand) and looks upward at 
them, HOME SWEET HOME is played behind the scene^^, soft 
and low, with stringed instruments, while they are climbing the 
rocks, and various colored lights are throivn upon the scene, mak- 
ing an effective and beautiful tableaux. 



HIAWATHA. 21 



ACT IV. 
HIAWATHA'S WEDDING FEAST, 



Scenery, 



Scene first; same as Act III. Lake-shore with forest ^ with the Tepee 
of Old Nokomis on the shore of the lake. Many Indians grouped 
here and there with NOKOMIS waiting and watching for the arrival 
of HI A WA THA and MINNEHAHA who are seen approach- 
ing from a distance, NOKOMIS and the Indians coming joyously 
forward to welcome them. In this scene are introduced an imita- 
tion of, or, better still, a Genuine Indian Feast; Indian Music; In- 
dian Songs; Sports and Pastimes, and Indian Dances in Native 
Costumes by Native Indians— if possible. 



Description-. 



Sumptious was the feast Nokomis 
Made at Hiawatha's wedding; 
All the bowls were made of bass-wood, 
White and polished very smoothly. 
All the spoons of horn of bison, 
Black and polished very smoothly. 

She had sent through all the village 
And the wedding guests assembled, 
Clad in all their richest raiment. 
Robes of fur and belts of wampum, 
Splendid with their paint and plumage, 
Beautiful with beads and tassels. 



Act J Nokomis, {seeing Hiawatha an^ Bride approach-^ 

ing): 



With a shout and song of triumbh. 
On the shore stood old Nokomis, 



HIAWATHA, 



Nokomis\ 



We bid you welcome Hiawatha, 
We liave waited long your coming, 
Welcome to your home and people. 

Hiawatha^ {leading Jorward Minnehaha): 

Dear Old Nokomis, 
A daughter have I brought to you 
From the land of the Dacotahs, 
Minnehaha, Laughing Water, 
Who shall run upon your errands. 
Be the sunlight of my people. 

J^okomis, to Minnehaha: 

The Objibways welcome the Dacotah maiden. 
You shall be my starlighU moonlight, firelight; 
You shall be the sunlighl of our people. 

Indians'. 

Honor be to Hiawatha. 

Act, Indians: 

And the people of the village 
Welcomed them with songs and dances, 
Made a joyous feast, and shouted: 

Description of Feast: 

First they ate the sturgeon, Nahma, 
And the pike, the Maskenoza, 
Caught and cooked by old Nokomis; 
Then on pemican they feasted, 
Pemlcan and buffalo marrow. 
Haunch of deer and hump of bison, 
Yellow oakes of the Mondamin, 
And the wild rice of the river. 



HIAWATHA. 

Acty Hiawatha^ Minnehaha and Nokomis: 

But the gracious Hiawatha, 
Aud the lovely Laughing Water, 
And the careful old Nokomis, 
Tasted not the food before them, 
Only waited on the others. 
Only served their guests in silence. 

Act, Noi^omis: 

And when all the guests had finished, 
Old Nokomis, brisk and busy. 
From an ample pouch of otter. 
Filled the red stone pipes for smoking 
With tabacco from the South-land, 

Then she said to Chibiabos, 
To the friend of Hiawatha, 
To the sweetest of all singers, 
To the best of all musicians. 

Nokomis: 

Sing to us, O Chibiubos! 
Songs of love and songs of longing, 
That the feast may be more joyous, 
That the time may pass more gayly. 
And our guests be more contented! 

Act, Chibiabos: 



And the gentle Chibiabos 
Sang in accents sweet and tender, 
Sang in tones of deep emotion. 
Songs of love and songs of longing; 
Looking still at Hiawatha, 
Looking at fair Laughing Water, 
Sang he softly, sang in this wise: 



HIAWATHA. 



Chibiabos Song: 



Onaway! Awiike, beloved! 
Thou the wild-tlower of the forest! 
Thou the wild-bird of the pniirie! 
Thou with eyes so soft and fuwn-like! 

If thou only lookest at me, 
I am happy, 1 am happy, 
As the lilies of the prairie, 
Whea they feel the dew upon them! 

Sweet thy breath is as the fragrance 
Of the wild-flowers in the morning, 
As their fragrance is at evening. 
In the Moon when leaves are falling. 

Does not all the blood within me 
Leap to meet thee, leap to meet thee. 
As the springs to meet the sunshine. 
In the Moon Avhcn nights are brightest? 

Onaway! my heart sings to thee. 
Sings with joy when thou art near me, 
As the sighing, singing branches 
In the pleasant Moon of Strawberries. 

When thou art not pleased, beloved, 
Then my heart is sad and darkened, 
As the shining river darkens. 
When the clouds (h*op shadoAvs on it! 

Wlien thou smilest, my beloved. 
Then my troubled heart is brightened. 
As in sunshine gleam the ripples 
That the cold wind makes in rivers. 

Smiles the earth, and smiles the waters. 
Smile the cloudless skies above us. 
But I lose the way of smiling 
When thou art no longer near me! 

I myself, myself, behold me! 



HIAWATHA. 25. 

Blood of ray beating heart, behold me! 
O awake, awake, beloved! 
Onaway! awake, beloved! 

Nokomis, to (Pau-(Puk'Keezms: 
O Pan Puk-Keewis, 
Dance for us your merry dances, 
Dance the Beggar's Dance to please us. 
That the feast may be more joyous. 
That the time may pass more gayly. 
And our guests be more contented! 

Act, Pau= Puk'- Keewis\ 

Then the handsome Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
He the Idle Yenadizze, 
He the merry mischief-maker, 
Whom the people called the Storm- Pool, 
Rose among" the guests assembled. 

Skilled was he in sports and pastimes^ 
In the game of quoits and ball play, 
In all games of skill and hazard. 

He was dressed in shirt of doe-skin, 
White and soft, and fringed with ermine, 
All Inwrought with beads of wampum; 
He was dressed in deer-skin leggins. 
Fringed with hedgehog quills and ermine. 
And in moccasins of buckskin, 
Thick with quills and beads embroidered. 
On his head were plumes of swan's down, 
On his heels were tails of foxes, 
In one hand a fan of feathers. 
And a pipe was in the other. 

Barred with streaks of red and yellow, 
streaks of blue and bright vermilion, 
Shone the face of Pau-Puk-Keewis. 
From his forehead fell his tresses. 
Smooth, and parted like a woman's. 
Shining bright with oil, and plaited, 
Hung with braids of scented grasses, 
As among the guests assembled, 
To the sound < f flutes and singing. 
To the sound of drums and voices, 
Rose the handsome Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
And begJfcn his mystic dances 



26 HIAWATHA. 

Dance^ Pau-Ptik-Keewis: 

First he daaced a solemn measure, 
Very slow in step and gesture, 
In aud out among the pine-trees, 
Through the shadows and the sunshine, 
Treading softly like a panther. 
Then more swiftly and still swifter. 
Whirling, spinning round in circles. 
Leaping o'er the guests assembled. 
Eddying round and round the wigwam, 
Till the leaves went whirling with him. 
Till the dust and wind together 
Swept in eddies round about him. 

Then along the sandy margin 
Of the lake, the Big-Sea- Water, 
On he sped with frenzied gestures. 
Stamped upon the sand, and tossed it 
Wildly in the air around him; 
Till the wind became a whirlwind. 
Till the sand was blown and sifted 
Like great snowdrifts o'er the landscape, 
Sand Hills of the Nagow Wudjoo! 

Thus the merry Pau-Puk-Keewls 
Danced his Beggar's Dance to please them. 
And, returning, sat down laughing 
There among the guests assembled, 
Sat and fanned himself serenely 
With his fan of turkey-feathers. 



Acty Chibiabos: 



Then again sang Chibiabos, 
Sang a song of love and longing, 
In those accents sweet and tender, 
In those tones of pensive sadness. 
Sang a maiden's lamentation 
For her lover, her Algonquin. 



Song: 



The original of this fong may be found in Oneata, p. 15. 

When I think of my beloved, 
Ah rac! think of my beloved, 
When my heart is thinking of him, 



IIIA WATIIA. 27 

O my sweetheart, my Algonquin! 
''Ah me! when I parted from him, 

Round my neck he hung the wampum, 

As a pledge, the snow-white wampum, 

O my sweetheart, my Algonquin! 
''I will go with you he whispered. 

Ah me! to your native country; 

Let me go with you, he whispered, 

O my sweetheart, my Algonquin! 
''Far away, away, I answered. 

Very far away, I answered. 

Ah me! is my native country, 

O my sweetheart, my Algonquin! 

"When 1 looked back to behold him, 

Where we parted, to behold him, 

After me he still was gazing, 

O my sweetheart, my Algonquin! 
"By the tree he still was standing. 

By the fallen tree was standing. 

That had dropped into the water, 

O my sweetheart, my Algonquin! 
'•When I think of my beloved, 

Ah me! think of my beloved. 

When my heart is thinking of him, 

O my sweetheart, my Algonquin! 

Indian pastimes, games, dances and specialties should be here 
introduced. If possible a national Indian dance by a num- 
ber of Indians The Harvest Dance^ Ghost Dance or a War 
Dance t with colored lights thrown upon the scene and soft music 
behind scenes, forming tableaux during dances and before the 
curtain falls. 

CURTAIN, 



28 HIAWATHA. 

ACT V. 
FAMINE, FEVER AND MINNEHAHA'S DEATH. 

Scenei'y: 

Forest and Lake, same as Act IV, hut WINTER. Interior of 
NoJcomis' Tepee. Present, Hiawatha, Nokomis and Minnehaha 
all of whose appearance indicate starvation and great suffering. 
Fever and Famine, the ghosts, two tall, slim girls, with white, 
haggard faces, dressed entirely in black drapery with no lines 
to break effect. 

Himcatha : {vnth great depth of feeling.) 

O this long and dreary Winter 
O this cold and cruel Winter! 
Ever thicker, thicker, thicker 
Grows the ice on lake and river, 
Ever deeper, deeper, deeper 
Falls the snow o'er all the landscape. 
Falls the covering snow, and drifting 
Through the forest, round the village, 

Hardly from his buried wigwam 
Can the hunter force a passage; 
With my mittens and my snow-shoes 
Vainly walked I through the forest. 
Sought for bird or beast and found none, 
Saw no track of deer or rabbit. 
In the snow beheld no footprints, 
In the ghastly, gleaming forest 
Fell, and could not rise from Aveakness, 
Almost perished there from cold and hunger. 



IIIA WATIIA. 29 

O the famine and the fever! 
O th*e wasting of the famine! 
O the blasting of the fever! 
O the wailing of the children! 
O the anguish of the women! 

All the earth is sick and famished; 
Hungry is the air around them. 
Hungry is the sky above them, 
And the hungry stars in heaven 
Like the eyes of wolves glare at them! 

Minnehaha^ (turning to Hiawatha^ reaching out her 
hands and piteously heseeching of him:) 

Give me food, O Hiawatha, 
Give us food, for we are starving, 
Give us food, or we must perish. 

Act^ Fever and Famine, 

Then the curtain ol the doorway 
From without was slowly lifted; 
And tw ) women entered softly, 
Passed the doorway uninvited, 
Without word of salutatiou, 
Without sign of recognition, 
Sat down in the farthest corner, 
Crouching low among the shadows. 
Very pale and haggard were they, 
As they sat there sad and silent, 
Trembling, cowering.with the shadows. 
Sobbing, weeping, wailing. 

Minnshaha, Softly: 

They are famished; 

Let them do what best delights them; 

Let them eat, for they are famished. 



30 III A WATIIA. 

Hiawatha^ mianiigly to hi7nself: 

Who arc they? 

Whiit stmnii^e guests has Mirmeh.iha? 

JUmjijatha^ to Fev^r mul Famiiu'\ 

I l)id you welcome 

To my l()(l<j^i', to my fireside; 

O guests! why is it 
That your hc^'irts are so afflicted, 
That you sob so in the sunlight'^ 
lias perchance> the oUl Nokomis, 
JIas my wife, my Minnehaha, 
Ever wronged or grieved you by unkindness, 
Ever failed in hospita1)le duties? 

Fever und Fmmne\ 

We are ghosts of the departed. 
Souls of those who once were with you. 
llitlier have we ccmie to try you. 
These are corpses clad in garments, 
These are ghosts that conu^ to haunt you, 
From th(5 kingdom of Ponemah, 
From the huid of the Hereafter! 
Cries of gric^f and lamentation 
Reacli uj- in the Blessed Islands; 
Cries of anguish from the living, 
('ailing back th(5ir frii^Uils departed, 
Sadden us with useh^ss sorrow. 
Th(^refor(i havt^ W(^ come to try you; 
No onc^ knows us, no one IummIs us. 



IIIAWATUA. 31 

Wo are l)ut Ji burden to you, 
And we see that the departed 
Have no phiee among the living. 
Think of this, () Hiawatha! 
Speak of it to all the people, 
That henc^eforward and forever 
They no more with lamentations* 
Sadden the soids of the departed 
In the Inlands of the Blessed. 
Do not lay such heavy burdens 
In the graves of those you bury. 
Farewell, noI)]e Hiawatha! 
We have put you to the trial. 
To the proof have put your patience, 
By the insult of our presence, 
By the outrage of oiu* actions. 
We have foimd you great and noble, 
Faint not in the greater trial, 
Faint not in the hardest struggle. 

Feoer (ind Famine, with haggard and hollow eyes, turn toward 
and approach Minnehaha^ meanwhile Hiawatha^ Nokomia 
and Minnehaha trying to ward them off. 

liehold mel 

I am Famine, Bukadawin! 

Fever, 

Behold me! 

1 am Fever, Ahkosewin! 



HIAWATHA. 



Aety Mhmehcfha, 



And the lovely Minnehaha 
Shuddered as they ook' d upon her, 
Shuddered at the words they uttered, 
Lay down on her bed in silence, 
H.d her face biit made no answer; 
Lay there trembling, Freezing, bur iing 
At the looks they cast upon her. 
At the fearful woid^ ine^ uttered. 

Act, Huiwatha^ Jirst preparing for journey, 

Wrapped in furs and armed for huntipg, 
With his mighty bow of ash-tree, 
With his quiver full of arrows. 
With his mittens, Minjekahwun, 

Forth into the empty forest 
Rushed the maddened Hiawatha; 
In his heart was deadly sorrow. 
In his face a stony firmneis; 
On his brow the sweat of anguish 
Started, but it froze and fell not. 
Into the vast and vacant forest 
Oi- his snow shoss strode he forward. 

Scene shiftSy showing Hiawatha in a dense forest, with trees 
covered with snoiv and ice, hunting food for Minnehaha, he- 
corning discouraged, he sits down on a log or rock, jwnders 
and talks to himself. 

Hiawathct, despondently, rmninating, 

Lo! how all things fade and perish! 
From the memory of the old men 
Pass away the great traditions, 

On the grave- posts of our fathers 
Are no signs, no figures painted; 
Who are in those graves we know not. 
Only know the}^ are our fathers, 
Of what kith they are and kindred, 
From what old, ancestral Totem, 



IIIA WATIIA. 33 

Be it Eagle, Bear or Beaver, 
They descended, this we know not, 
Only know they are our fathers. 

Face to face we speak together, 
But we cannot speak when absent, 
Cannot send our voices from us 
To the friends that dwell afar off; 
Cannot send a secret message, 
But the bearer learns our secret. 
May pervert it, may betray it. 
May reveal it unto others. 

'Twas through this forest, dark and gloomy, 
In the balmy days of summer 
That I brought my bride, Laughing Water, 
From the land of the Di.kotahs, 
Through this forest, bleak and frozen, 
Brought my moonlight, starlight, firelight, 
Brought the sunshine of my people, 
Minnehaha, Laughing Water, 
Handsomest of all the women 
In the land of the Dacotahs, 
In the land of handsome women. 
When she followed me, her husband. 

Buries his head in his hands, then rising^ stretching his hands 
tov^ard Heaven tvifh head uplifted cries aloud ivith great feeling, 

^'GitcheManitou, the Mighty!" 
In this bitter hour of anguish, 
Give your children food, O father! 
(xive us food, or we must perish! 



3J^ HIAWATHA. 

Give me food for Minnehaha, 
For my dying Minnehaha! 

Act^ Hiawatha^ 

Through the far-resounding forest, 
Through the forest vast and vacar t 
Rang that cry of desolation, 
But there came no other answer 
Than the echo of his crying, 
Than the echo of the woodiaQd.^. 

Echo. 

Minnehaha! Minnehaha! Ha! Ha! 

Hiawatha disappears in the forest looking for game. 

Scene changes showing the interior of the tepee where Minnehaha 
lies sick aud dying. Fever sitting at her head, Famine at her 
feet, both staring at her. Old Nokomis sitting at the back, 
of the couch, watching over and caring for her uith maternal 
love and pity. 

Min7iehaha, feehly^ 

To Fever and Famine, 
To-morrow 

Is the hist day of my conflict, 
Is the last day of my fasting. 
You will conquer and o'ercome me; 

- Turning to Nokomis, patheiicaUy , 
Dear old Nokomis, 
Make a bed for me to lie in, 
Where the rain may fall upon me, 
Where the sun may come and warm me; 
Lay me in the earth, and make it 
Soft and l^ose ^wA liofht alcove me. 



HIA WATHA, 35 

Let no hand disturb my slumber, 
Only come yourself to watch me, 
Till I wake, and start, and quicken, 
Till 1 leap into the sunshine. 

After a silence. 

Ah me! think of my beloved. 
In the bleak and frozen forest 
My heart is thinking of him. 

Another silence. 

Far away, away, 
Very far away, 
Ah me! is my native country. 

Half raising herself and speaking wildly, 

Hark! 1 hear a rushing, 
Hear a roarmg and a rushing. 
Hear the Falls of Minnehaha 
Calling to me from a distance! 

JVokornis^ soothingly^ 

No, no, my child! 

'Tis only the night- wind in the pine-trees! 

Minnehaha^ deliriously^ pointing^ 

Look! I see my father 
Standing lonely at his doorway. 
Beckoning to me from his wigwam 
In the land of the Dakotahs! 

]Voko7nis^ 

No, no, my child! 



36 IIIA WATIIA. 

'Tis only the* smoke, that waves and l)eckons! 

Minnehaha^ wildly^ raving^ 

Ah! The eyes of Paugiik 
Glare upon me in the darkness, 
I can feel his icy fingers 
Clasping mine amid the darkness! 

Hiawatha! Hiawatha! 

Shrieking loudly and falls hack dead. 

Fever and Famine at Minnehaha^ s deaths glide out, Nokomis 
changes position taking a seat at her feet then rocking back 
and forth vails and moans. 

Wahonowin! Wahonowin! 
Would that I had perished for you, 
Would that I were dead as you are! 
Wahonowin! Wahonowin! 

Ah! why do the living. 
Lay such hcav^/ burdens on us! 
Better were it to go naked, 
Better were it to go fasting. 
Than to bear such heavy burdens 
On our long and weary journey! 
O that I were dead! 
O that I were dead, as thou art? 
No more work, and no more weeping, 
Wahonowin! Wahonowin! 

Daring this scene a low, soft dirge sliould he played behind the scenes 
Indians are to be seen peeping from behind trees and rocks, some 
after the death coming to look into the wigwam. 



HTAWATRA, 37 

Indian chiefs^ wailing and shaking their medicine-pouches 
over the head of Minnehaha, 

Hi au-hu! 
Way- ha- way! 
She has gone 

To the land of ghosts and shadows. 
Hi-au-hal 
Way-ha-way! 

Act, Hiawatha J 

Hiawatha rushed into the wigwam , 

Saw the old NokomiH slowly 

Rocking to and fro and moaning, 

Saw his lovely Minnehaha 

Lying dead and cold before him. 

And liis bursting heart within him 

Uttered such a cry of Anguisli, 

Tliat the fdrest moaned and shuddered, 

Tliat the very stars in heaven 

Sliook and trembled witli his anguisli. 

Hiawatha, astounded, shocked^ then mournfully. 

Dead cnt of the empty heaven, 
Dead among the starving people, 

Calling to Heaven, despairingly, 
Master of Life! 
Must our lives depend on these things? 

Moans, cries, then softly murmurs. 

Ah, showain nemeshin, Nosa! 
Pity, pity me, my father! 

Pathetically beseeching MinnehaJia, 

O! my Minnehaha; O, my Laughing Water, 
Do not leave me thus; 



38 HIAWATHA. 

You were n)}^ moonlight, starlight, firelight 
You were the sunshine of my life, 

Whispering to her in her shtmberSj 
Though you are far from me 
In the land of Sleep and Silence, 
Still the voice of love should reach you! 

NokomiSj sorrowfully, resignedly, 

She is dead, the Laughing Water! 
She the dearest of all creatures! 
She has gone from us forever. 
She has moved a little nearer 
To the Master of all life, 
To the Master of all sunshine! 
She has gone 

To the regions of the home-wind. 
Of the Northwest wind Keewaydin, 
To the Islands of the Blessed, 
To the kingdom of Pimemah, 
To the land of the Hereafter! 

Hiawatha, sitting down, looking lovingly and mournfidly at her 
meditates. 

Oh! those willing feet, that never 
More will lightly run to meet me, 
Never more will lightly follow. 

Act, Hiawatha^ 

Then he sat down, still and speechless 
On the bed of Minnehaha 
At the head of Laughing Water, 
As if in a swoon he sat there, 
Speechless, motionless, unconscious. 



HIA WATIIA. 39 

After awhile^ rising, he goes hack of the couch, thus standingy 
looks down upon her, saying with sorrow and deep pathos. 

Farewell! Minnehaha! 
Farewell, O my Laughing Water! 
All my heart is buried vvith you, 
All my thoughts go onward with you! 
Come not back again to labor, 
Come not back again to suffer, 
Where the Famine and the Fever, 
Wear the heart and waste the body. 
Soon my task will be completed. 
Soon your footsteps I shall follow 
To the Islands of the Blessed, 
To the Kingdom of Ponemah, 
To the Land of the Hereafter! 

A reproduction of an Indian death scene and an Indian funeral 
could here be given. Soft music behind scenes. Colored lights 
should be thrown upon the scene making a very effective tab- 
leau, showing interior of the tepee with Indians seen scattered 
here and there outside in the wintery forest, 

CURTAIN. 



J^O HIAWATHA, 

ACT VI. 
HIAWATHA'S DEPARTURE. 

Scenery: Shore of the lake with a forest on its margin. A 
peaceful quiet summer scene. In the distance Indian tents ^ 
and nearer the tepee of Nokomis. Indians scattered here and 
there^ some making a birch hark canoe in true Ojibway fashion 
others shooting at target and indulging in Indian pastimes. 
Hiawatha standing on the lake shore* Here can he given a 
transformation and spectacular scene and tahleaux^ showing 
Minnehaha in the distance as an angel and hovering o'er 
them. Or, the following spectacular — Suddenly in the dis- 
tance soft low sweet music is heard (by stringed instru- 
ments behind the scenes), and across the lake through a 
rift in the sky is seen a bright heavenly light, growing 
brighter and brighter, then an object is seen growing 
more and more distinct as the music grows louder, the 
object draws nearer and the light brighter, and as the 
object comes into view it is discovered to be a birch bark 
canoe gliding toward them. In the canoe is Minnehaha 
dressed as an angel and using paddle. The soft sweet 
music grows nearer and louder, and the halo of light sur- 
roundinsj her brighter as the canoe approaches. The In- 
dians stop their various pursuits and stand in attitudes of 
astonishment watching the canoe approach. Hiawatha, 
stepping forward to the margin of the lake when Min- 
nehaha is first seen, stands shading his eyes, expect- 
antly watching and waiting. Nokomis also comes forth 
from her tepee. Minnehaha beckons to Hiawatha. As 
she approaches them Hiawatha recognizing her,8teps for- 
ward, close to the waters edge, and with hands extended 
and a smile of joy and triumph, and a look of exultation 
waits. As the boat stops close to shore and Minnehaha 
again beckons to him, he appirently hesitates between 
her and leaving his people, then again turns to her, 
with exultation, hope, joy and deep feeing. 



HIAWATHA, J^l 

Hiawatha: 

Oh, my angel, Miniiehalui, 

Long have I been waiting for you! 

Youth is lovely, age is lonely, 

Youth is fiery, age is frosty; 

You bring back the days departed, 

Y"ou bring back my youth of passion, 

O my beautiful Laughing Water 

My lovely wife, my Minnehaha. 

Hiawatha turns first to Nokomis and then to his people, as 
though loth to leive them Then, ag%in looking at Minnne- 
haha, who motions to him smilingty: 

^Actj Miunehaha: 

O'er the water, flying, 
Througt) the shining mist of moraing, 
Comes a birch 2 moe with paddles, 
Itising, sinking on the water, 
Dripping, flashing in the sunshine ; 
O'er the water floating, flyinj, 
» S«»mething in the hazj distance, 
Something in the mists of morning. 
Loomed and lifted from the water, 
Now seem jd floating, now seemed flying, 
Coming nearer, nearj^, nearer. 



^ct^ Hiawatha: 



From the brow of Hiawatha 
Gone w IS every trace of sorrow. 
As the fog from off" the water, 
As the mist from otF the meadow. 
With a smile of joy and triumph, 
With a look of exultation, 
As of one who in a ViS t>fi 
Sees wliat is to be, but is not, 
Stood ard waited Hiawatha. 

And the noble Hiawatha, 
With his hands aloft extended, 
Held aloft in sign of welcome, 
Waited, full Qf exultation. 



^^ HIAWATHA. 

Hiawatha^ to J^okomis^ tenderly \ 

I am going, O Nokomis, 
On a long and distant journey, 
To the portals of the Sunset, 
To the regions of the home-wind, 
Of the Northwest wind, Keewaydin. 

Motioning to his people. 

In your watch and ward I leave them, 
See that never harm comes near them. 
See that never fear molests them, 
Never danger nor suspicion, 
Never want of food nor shelter. 
In the lodge of Hiawatha. 

Nohomis, sobbing. 

Farewell, O Hiawatha! 

Farewell, my child, my noble Hiawathn. 

Hiawatha^ turning to Indians^ 

Gitche Manitou, the Mighty, 
Showed me in my vision. 
All the secrets of the future, 
Of the distant days that shall l)e. 
I beheld the westward marches 
Of the unknown crowded nations. 
All the land was full of people, 
Kestless, struggling, toiling, striving. 
Speaking many tongues, yet feeling 
But one heart beat in their bosoms. 



HIAWATHA. 4^ 

In our woodlands rang their axes, 
Smoked their towns in all our valleys, 
Over all the lakes and rivers 
Kushed their great canoes of thunder. 

Then .\ darker, drearier vision 
Passed before me, vague and cloud-like: 
I beheld our nation scattered. 
All forgetful of my counsels. 
There are great men, I have known such, 
Whom their own people understand not, 
Whom they even make a jest of. 

Stepping into canoe and drifting away. 

I am going, O my people, 
On a long and distant journey; 
Many moons and many winters 
Will have come and will have vanished. 
Ere again I meet you. 

Indian Chiefs: 

We liave listened to your message, 
We have heard your words of wisdom, 
We will think on what you tell us. 

Farewell, O Hiawatha! 

All Indians, sorrowfully, watching and waving adieu. 

Farewell, Hiawatha, the beloved! 
Farewell, forever! Farewell, O Hiawatha. 

Canoe is seen disappearing in the distance, 

CURTAIN. 



':-^Py^ 



OF 



LONGFELLOW'S 

AV\^ATHA 



leetaeular Drama in Six Acts, 



[Delineating the Characteristics and Customs 



OF 



NATIVE ^^»^AMERICAN INDIAN. 




Re- written, Revised, Arranged and Dramatized 
By A. L, DEVINE. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

015 988 424 7 « 




